Multi configurable half top assembly

ABSTRACT

A top for a Jeep type vehicle is provided having a rear cargo area and parallel spaced roll bars. The top includes parallel spaced apart C pillars, each C pillar including front and rear vertical columns, the rear columns having a perpendicularly connected seat belt pass-through. The C pillars also have bottom plates connecting the front and rear columns that extend beyond the rear column. A top plate connects the front and rear columns together. The C pillars include pivotally connected sealing plates for sealing a top end of a rear door, the sealing plates being connected to the roll bars. A vertical rear window extending between said C pillar rear columns is provided, the rear window having a cutout portion for allowance of passage of a seat belt therethrough. A fabric cover providing a top deck extends over said front and rear seating portion of said vehicle and also covers the C pillars. A tonneau cover is provided for covering the rear cargo area providing a flat surface enclosure over the cargo area.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This instant application is a continuation of U.S. patent applicationSer. No. 16/584,364 filed Sep. 26, 2019; which is a continuation of U.S.patent application Ser. No. 15/950,963 filed Apr. 11, 2018; now U.S.Pat. No. 10,457,129 which claims the benefit of U.S. ProvisionalApplication No. 62/484,223; filed Apr. 11, 2017. The disclosures of theabove applications are incorporated herein by reference.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a customized top for four-door Jeeptypes vehicles.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Many consumers prefer a truck styled fabric top with covered storage ina rear cargo area that is covered with soft or hard tonneau to create asecure cargo area. Objectives: Design soft top with one-hand easy openSunrider and with soft/hard tonneau cargo area coverage. Secure storageshould be a standalone. Individual accessory pieces, such as BestopWindjammer®, Bikini® and Duster® provide same coverage of a Jeepcockpit, rear curtain and cargo area. Windjammer®, Bikini®, Duster® (alltrademarks for soft top products owned by Bestop, Inc.) are separatepieces and are not as weather tight as a one-piece Half Top. Windjammer,Bikini, Duster do not contain features and benefits including Sunriderfor Hard Top® folding mechanism, zipper-less design and spring loadedfabric tensioning designs.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention incorporates a Sunrider for Hard Top® folding softtop mechanism, a Dual Sunrider, zipper less glass design and springloaded fabric tensioning system for the top system. The zipper lessdesign enables the removal and installation of quarter windows and rearcurtains with ease and speed. The self-tensioning spring loaded fabricmechanism and/or inflating airbag tensioning systems keep fabric frombecoming loose and floppy. Structural seatbelt pass through designorganizes the seatbelt harness to freely pass through fabric and PVCplastic windows preventing hindering of seat belt deployment.Incorporating rear curtain fabric in seatbelt pass through area isattached with sewn-in molded rubber grommet and/or hook and loopproduct. A hard tonneau option with InstaTrunk style rear panel designcreates secure locked storage in the Halftop with top installed,completely off or in the Sunrider position. The center bow preventswater from pooling on the soft fabric tonneau. Lighting is attached tothe center bow to illuminate the rear cargo area.

The above improvements provide an improved multi configurable half topassembly for a jeep or UTV vehicle having a rear entry gate. In oneembodiment at least one fold back soft top portion is included which maybe slide able on a track. The rear portion of the vehicle includesattachments for forming a secure compartment.

Further areas of applicability of the present invention will becomeapparent from the detailed description provided hereinafter. It shouldbe understood that the detailed description and specific examples, whileindicating the preferred embodiment of the invention, are intended forpurposes of illustration only and are not intended to limit the scope ofthe invention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The present invention will become more fully understood from thedetailed description and the accompanying drawings, wherein:

FIG. 1 illustrates an embodiment of the invention wherein a cover forthe cargo storage interlocks with a cargo tailgate;

FIG. 2 illustrates an embodiment of the invention wherein the deck coveris removed to enhance passenger enjoyment;

FIG. 3 illustrates an embodiment of the invention wherein the deckpanels of FIG. 1 are reconnected with the vehicle;

FIG. 4 illustrates an embodiment of the invention wherein the deck overthe front passenger area is removable;

FIG. 5 illustrates an embodiment of the invention wherein the deck overthe front and rear passenger portions is removable;

FIGS. 7 and 8 illustrates an embodiment of the invention illustratingthe C pillars of the top system before installation of a cover;

FIG. 9 illustrates an embodiment of the invention wherein the panel overthe rear passenger seat is removable;

FIG. 10 illustrates an embodiment of the invention with a slidingmid-deck;

FIG. 11 illustrates an embodiment of the invention with a flat soft toptonneau cover;

FIG. 12 illustrates an embodiment of the invention with a thin profile Cpillar;

FIG. 13 illustrates an embodiment of the invention with a roll uptonneau cover; and

FIG. 14 illustrates an embodiment of the invention with a pivotallockable tonneau cover.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

The following description of the preferred embodiment(s) is merelyexemplary in nature and is in no way intended to limit the invention,its application, or uses.

Referring to FIGS. 7 and 8, a top system 7 for a four-door Jeep typevehicle 10 is provided. The vehicle 10 has a front seating portion 12and a rear seating portion 14. The vehicle 10 has a rear cargo area 16.The rear cargo area 16 juxtaposes rear wheel wells 18. The cargo area 16is closed by a pivotal cargo gate 20 (see FIG. 1). The vehicle 10 hasparallel spaced roll bars 22. The roll bars 22 have a horizontal portion24 that extends adjacent to at least the rear seating portion 14 of thevehicle and often extends forwardly therefrom to be adjacent the frontseating portion 12 of the vehicle connecting with the windshield 26. Theroll bars 22 also have a vertically inclined portion 28 that is slantedtowards the cargo area 16.

The top system 7 has two parallel spaced apart C pillars 30. Each Cpillar includes a front vertical column 32. The C pillars 30 also have arear vertical column 34. The rear vertical column 34 has aperpendicularly connected seat belt pass through 36. Seatbelt passthrough 36 extends towards a longitudinal centerline 38 of the vehicle10. A seat belt 40, typically a shoulder restraint for a rear passenger,extends through the pass through 36 and is then held up by a hangar (notshown) and then proceeds generally adjacent the inclined portion 28 ofthe roll bar entering into the cargo area 16 to a retractor (not shown)anchored to a mount on an interior surface of the wheel well 18, anotherstructure of the vehicle body. The C pillars 30 along their bottom endshave a bottom plate 44 that connects a bottom end of front and rearcolumns 32 and 34. The bottom plate 44 longitudinally extends rearwardlybeyond rear column 34. The bottom plate is fixedly connected to a topdeck 46 of the vehicle rear end. A top plate 48 connects front columnsalong their top ends. The C pillars 30 also have a connected sealingplate 50. The sealing plate 50 is provided for a surface or a supportfor surface utilized sealing a rear door (not shown). The sealing plate50 is typically connected to C pillar front column 32 and is alsotypically connected with the horizontal portion 24 of the roll bar.

As shown better in FIGS. 1 and 2, the top system 7 has a vertical rearwindow 56. The rear window 56 has a cut out, providing allowance of passthrough 36 for the rear seatbelts. Typically, the window 56 is mountedin zipperless fashion as mentioned in U.S. Pat. No. 9,238,400 or one ofthe U.S. Patent Applications claiming priority thereto, the disclosuresof which are incorporated by reference herein.

A transverse bow 64 is provided connecting a bottom of C pillar rearcolumns 34 together. In some embodiments a lighting fixture is connectedwith bow 64, lighting cargo area 16.

As best shown in FIGS. 5 and 6 a fabric cover 70 provides a top deck 72extending over front and rear seating portions 12, 14 of the vehicle 10.The fabric cover 70 also provides a covering and encircles rear window56.

The seat system also provides a tonneau cover 80 for the rear cargo areaproviding a flat surface closure over the rear cargo area 16.

In FIG. 6 the tonneau cover 80 is a hard (stiff) cover. In FIG. 8 afabric soft tonneau cover (not shown) is utilized. To hold up the softtonneau cover there is provided a bow 81. In FIG. 1, a hard cover 80 isutilized which has an edge 82 that interlocks with a locking edge 84provided on a vertically swinging tailgate 85 to provide a lockable rearstorage when the tailgate is closed and appropriately locked.

FIGS. 1 and 2 provide the cover top system 7 with the deck cover 72removed to enhance operator enjoyment of the environment.

FIG. 3 provides the top system 7 with the deck panels shown removed inFIG. 1 reconnected with the vehicle 10. FIG. 4 illustrates top system 7of the present inventions where a panel over the front seating portion12 is removable. FIGS. 5 and 6 illustrate top system 7 of the presentinvention having panels openable over the front and rear seatingportions 12, 14 of the vehicle 10 and additionally having a hard middeck 73. The mid deck 73 provides a sealing surface between two topssuch as two fold back type tops such as Sunrider for Hardtop by Bestopor pivot back top or the front or the rear and a hard top panel on theother side of the mid deck 73. The openable panels in FIG. 5 can beoperated according to the principles discussed in PCT/US2015/022716,U.S. application Ser. No. 14/222,156 and U.S. patent application Ser.No. 15/595,396, which are hereby incorporated by reference in thepresent application.

FIG. 12 illustrates a top system 7 according to the present inventionhaving a thin profile C pillar 130 wherein the front and rear columns ofthe C pillar are longitudinally closer to one another.

FIG. 13 illustrates an embodiment of the present invention top system 7having a roll-up tonneau cover 91. FIG. 14 illustrates an embodiment ofthe present invention top system 7 having a hard tonneau cover 104 thatis also pivotal, having a lock 106 to secure the cargo area 16. FIG. 2illustrates an embodiment for the system further including a forwardplate 109 isolating the cargo area 16 from the rear seating portion ofthe vehicle.

FIG. 10 provides an embodiment of the top system 7 with a slidingmid-deck 120.

FIG. 9 provides an embodiment of the top system 7 with an openable panel(panel removed) over the rear seating portion 14.

FIG. 11 provides an embodiment of the top system 7 with a flat softtonneau cover 132.

With respect to top systems and zipperless window systems of the presentinvention specific configurations of these which are useful in claimedcombinations of the present invention include U.S. application Ser. No.15/128,773, filed Sep. 23, 2016, “LIFT ASSIST MECHANISM FOR SOFT TOP,”which will issue as U.S. Pat. No. 9,944,155, dated Apr. 17, 2018; U.S.Pat. No. 9,238,400, dated Jan. 19, 2016, “ZIPPER LESS REMOVABLE WINDOWSFOR A FOLDING SUV SOFT TOP;” U.S. Pat. No. 9,931,921, dated Apr. 3,2018, “SOFT FRONT COCKPIT COVER;” U.S. application Ser. No. 15/595,396,filed May 15, 2017, “SLIDING/FOLDING SLANTED BACK SOFT TOP ASSEMBLY FORSUV;” and U.S. Provisional Application 62/486,226, filed Apr. 17, 2018,“ZIPPER LESS REMOVABLE WINDOWS FOR A FOLDING SOFT TOP,” which are herebyexpressly incorporated by reference in the present patent application.The present invention further incorporates by reference herein thedisclosures of International Application No. PCT/US2015/022716, U.S.patent application Ser. No. 14/222,156, and U.S. patent application Ser.No. 15/595,396.

The description of the invention is merely exemplary in nature and,thus, variations that do not depart from the gist of the invention areintended to be within the scope of the invention. Such variations arenot to be regarded as a departure from the spirit and scope of theinvention.

What is claimed is:
 1. A method of providing a top system for a four-door Jeep type vehicle having a cargo area rear of a rear seating portion of said vehicle, said cargo area juxtaposing rear wheel wells of said vehicle, said cargo area being closed by a pivotal rear cargo gate, said vehicle having parallel spaced roll bars with a horizontal portion adjacent at least a rear seating portion of said vehicle and said roll bars having an inclined portion slanted towards said cargo area, said method comprising: providing parallel spaced apart C pillars, said C pillars including a front vertical column and a rear vertical column, said rear column having a perpendicularly connected seat belt pass-through extending towards a longitudinal centerline of said vehicle, said C pillars also having longitudinal extending bottom plates connecting said front and rear columns, said bottom plate extending beyond said rear column, and said C pillar also including a top plate connecting said front and rear columns along a top end of said front and rear columns and said C pillars including connected sealing plates for sealing a top end of a rear door, said sealing plates also being connected to said roll bars; providing a vertical rear window extending between said C pillar rear columns, said rear window having a cutout portion for allowance of passage of a seat belt; providing a fabric cover providing a top deck extending over a front and said rear seating portion of said vehicle, said cover also covering said C pillars and said rear window; providing a rear bow connecting said C pillars' rear columns adjacent a bottom end of said columns; and providing a tonneau cover for said rear cargo area providing a flat surface enclosure of said rear cargo area.
 2. The top method as provided in claim 1 wherein said top deck has an openable panel.
 3. The top method as provided in claim 1 further including providing a front panel openable over the front seating portion and a rear panel openable over said rear seat seating portion.
 4. The top system as provided in claim 3 having a hard mid deck between said front and rear panels.
 5. The top method as provided in claim 1 having a sliding top deck.
 6. The top method as provided in claim 1 having a hard tonneau cover.
 7. The top method as provided in claim 1 having a soft fabric tonneau cover.
 8. The top method as provided in claim 17 having a rolled soft fabric tonneau cover.
 9. The top method as provided in claim 17 having a sliding opening top deck. 